‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ – A Guide to the New Generation of Characters

With 'Star Wars: Episode 7' looking more and more like it will focus on the children of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo & Princess Leia, we thought now might be a good time to catch up with these characters. You know Luke and Han and Leia but their kids only appeared in the 'Star Wars' "Expanded Universe" of novels and comics and games and are probably not nearly as familiar to 'Star Wars' fans. So here is our guide to the characters we think will play a big part in 'Star Wars: Episode 7' and the rest of the trilogy J.J. Abrams is developing.

We can't say for sure if 'Star Wars: Episode 7' will follow these plot details as laid out in the Expanded Universe but be warned, there are some major spoilers for these characters and their fates as they currently exist.

Ready? It's time to meet the new generation of 'Star Wars' characters!

Ben Skywalker

Ben Skywalker is the son of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker. While both of his Jedi parents were off fighting the Yuuzhan Vong War, Ben Skywalker was set to live with his Aunt and Uncle, Han and Leia Solo. Resentful, he closed himself off from the force for many years. He became close though with his cousins and eventually Jacen Solo worked with him as an informal Jedi Master. Skywalker eventually opened up to the force and became a powerful Jedi in his own right.

Jacen Solo

Son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Jacen is also the grandson of Darth Vader. He and his twin sister Jaina trained with their uncle Luke Skywalker at the Jedi Praxium on Yavin 4. After his younger brother Anakin Solo was killed in battle, Jacen was captured by the Yuuzhan Vong and tortured for over a year. After his release, he slowly turned toward the Dark Side and eventually became Darth Caedus, killing his aunt, Mara Jade Skywalker, after she became aware of his alliance with the Sith. He would later fight his twin sister Jaina in an epic lightsaber battle.

Jaina Solo

The twin sister of Jacen Solo, Jaini studied under Luke Skywalker before battling in the front lines of the Yuuzhan Vong War. She later became a Jedi Master under the tutelage of her aunt, Mara Jade Skywalker, and would play a crucial part in attempting to stop her brother once he became a Sith Lord, eventually killing him in a lightsaber duel.

Mara Jade Skywalker

An assassin working for Emperor Palpatine, her last assignment was to kill Luke Skywalker. But after her death, she went rogue and eventually worked alongside Skywalker. Over the course of a few years, they fall in love and got married. Mara Jade took the Skywalker name and devoted herself to the Jedi, eventually becoming a master. She was killed by her nephew Jacen Solo after she found out that he had turned to the Dark Side.

Lowbacca

Lowbacca (or "Lowie") is the son of Kallabow and Mahraccor and the nephew of Chewbacca. He studied with Luke Skywalker at the same time as Jacen and Jaina Solo and became close friends with the twins. Unlike his famous uncle Chewie, Lowbacca became a Jedi Knight and wielded a bronze lightsaber.

Anakin Solo

Anakin Solo was the younger brother of Jacen and Jaina Solo, named after his grandfather Anakin Skywalker. Because of his namesake, Anakin often worried he would succumb to the Dark Side but he eventually became a Jedi Knight alongside his siblings. Anakin would later become Luke Skywalker's apprentice. Chewbacca would later die trying to save Anakin's life, an incident that would cause a rift between Anakin and his father. He would die in battle when he was only 17 years old, which would eventually help lead his cousin Jacen to the dark side.